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Before First SPED Laws
-SPED Students were excluded from public schools
-Institutionalization.
-SPED students did not receive any support
-There was little or no awareness/advocacy for SPED students. -
Brown v. Board of Education
-Parents of SPED students began to sue for excluding special education students.
-Parents of SPED students protested "Seperate is NOT equal"
-SCOTUS issues landmark civil rights decision -
Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA)
-More equity in schools.
-More resources became available for underprivileged children.
-ESSA reauthorized
- SWDs. Grants were utilized to create programs for SWDs -
Rehabilitation Act of 1973
-Rehabilitation Act Prohibits workplace from discriminating individuals based on disability.
-Fed. civil rights law
-Section 504: "No otherwise qualified individual with a disability, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance..." -
Education for All Handicapped Children Act (EAHCA)
-Public schools were made to provide equal access for SWDs in education.
-Parents were able to follow procedures to dispute decisions
-Evaluation, creation of Education plan
-EAHCA called for schools to be less restrictive while educating students. -
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
-Federal civil rights law
Discrimination against individuals with disabilities is prohibited in public places
-Public places must be handicap accessible with elevators and ramps -
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
-Public school were made to provide FAPE (Free and appropriate education) to all SWDs
-Evaluation & Child Find
-Safeguard Procedures for parents -
Currently
-IDEA amended and updated in 2015 and currently active.
-SPED law has evolved and continues to evolve.
-Recent SCOTUS case: Endew v. Douglas County School District